Tortoni Café

Café Tortoni, the oldest café of Buenos Aires

On the Avenida de Mayo, Café Tortoni is the oldest café of Buenos Aires and certainly the most famous. A true institution, it embodies the literary and bohemian soul of the city. The Buenos Aires audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this legendary place, frequented for more than a century by artists and writers.

A legendary literary café

Founded in the nineteenth century by a café owner of French origin, the Gran Café Tortoni is the oldest café of Buenos Aires. With its Art Nouveau-inspired decor, its mirrors, its columns and its stained glass, it has welcomed generations of writers, artists and musicians. An emblematic place of Porteño culture, it remains inseparable from the literary history and the tango of the city.

What to see

Here you discover a preserved Art Nouveau decor, between mirrors, woodwork and stained glass, in a timeless atmosphere. The café also offers tango shows, perpetuating the Porteño tradition. It is a must-see stop to feel the cultural soul of Buenos Aires, on the Avenida de Mayo.

Practical information

Café Tortoni lies on the Avenida de Mayo, in the heart of Buenos Aires, reachable on foot and by public transport. It is a working café, generally open every day; hours may vary and it is very busy. You can go in to admire the decor or sit down, with respect for the place and the other customers.

Why is Café Tortoni famous?

Because it is the oldest café of Buenos Aires, founded in the nineteenth century, famous for its Art Nouveau decor and its literary and artistic history.

Where is Café Tortoni?

On the Avenida de Mayo, in the heart of central Buenos Aires.